Tripraseodymium penta­iron(III) dodeca­oxide, Pr3Fe5O12: a synchrotron radiation study

The title compound, penta­iron tripraseodymium dodeca­oxide (PrIG), has an iron garnet structure. There are two Fe site symmetries. One of the Fe atoms is coordinated by six O atoms, forming a slightly distorted octa­hedron, and has site symmetry. The other Fe atom is coordinated by four O atoms, forming a slightly distorted tetra­hedron, and has site symmetry. FeO6 octa­hedra and FeO4 tetra­hedra are linked together by corners. The Pr atom is coordinated by eight O atoms, forming a distorted dodeca­hedron, and has 222 site symmetry. The O atoms occupy the general positions

Trineodymium(III) penta­iron(III) dodeca­oxide, Nd3Fe5O12

The title compound, Nd3Fe5O12 (NdIG), has an iron garnet structure. One of the Fe atoms is coordinated by six O atoms in a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry and has site symmetry. The other Fe atom is coordinated by four O atoms in a slightly distorted tetra­hedral geometry and has site symmetry. The FeO6 octa­hedron and FeO4 tetra­hedron are linked together by corners. The Nd atom is coordinated by eight O atoms in a distorted dodeca­hedral geometry and has 222 site symmetry. The O atoms occupy general positions

油糧種子脱脂粕の有効利用に向けた基盤的研究

神戸松蔭女子学院大学油糧種子は、植物油の供給源であるが、その脱脂粕はタンパク質含量が高いにもかかわらず、食料素材とされずに肥料や飼料として利用されている。そこで、これらのタンパク質の特性を明らかにした。エゴマ（シソ科）タンパク質の主要タンパク質の溶解度、アミノ酸組成、サブユニット組成を明らかにした。ゴマ（ゴマ科）タンパク質の酵素分解物を用いて酵母を培養すると、生育促進、冷凍耐性付与されることを見出し、その作用機構を明らかにした。Considerable recent interest has been focused on the residue from defatted oilseeds because of their high protein content. To examine the possibility of using perilla and sesame proteins as a new food ingredient, we investigated their　nutritional and biochemical properties.I clarified solubility, amino acid composition, and subunit composition of major　proteins in perilla seeds.Furthermore, I showed that the number of cultured yeast cells in sesame peptide medium was approximately 4 times that in bacto peptone medium. The cells cultured with sesame peptides acquired improved tolerance to freeze-thaw stress after frozen storage. We further investigated the mechanisms of the improved tolerance

新しい食料資源としてのエゴマタンパク質の利用に関する基盤的研究

神戸松蔭女子学院大

Gene expression profile of renal proximal tubules regulated by proteinuria

Gene expression profile of renal proximal tubules regulated by proteinuria.BackgroundProximal tubules activated by reabsorption of protein are thought to play significant roles in the progression of kidney diseases. Thus, identification of genes related to proteinuria should provide insights into the pathological process of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.MethodGene expression profiles were constructed by means of direct sequencing procedures to identify genes induced in the mouse kidney proximal tubules (PT) exposed to proteinuria.ResultsBy comparing the gene expression of control PT to that of disease model PT, the abundantly expressed genes in control PT were down-regulated presumably because of potentially toxic effects of proteinuria. From the more than 1000 up-regulated genes, an immunity related gene, thymic shared antigen-1 (TSA-1), and a novel gene, GS188, were selected for further characterization. The increased expression of TSA-1, a member of the Ly-6 family, and of GS188 in response to proteinuria was confirmed by Northern analysis, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and laser microdissection along with real-time PCR analysis. Full length cloning of GS188 identified it as a family member of LR8 that was reported to express predominantly in fibroblasts.ConclusionsThe gene expression profiles showed that the expression patterns in PT were changed dramatically by proteinuria. The profiles include novel genes that should be further characterized to aid the understanding of the pathophysiology of progressive kidney diseases

Acoustic stiffness and change in plug cartilage over time after autologous osteochondral grafting: correlation between ultrasound signal intensity and histological score in a rabbit model

We investigated quantitative changes over time in ultrasound signal intensity (an index of stiffness), signal duration (an index of surface irregularity), and interval between signals (an index of thickness) of plug cartilage in an animal model of autologous osteochondral grafting. A full-thickness osteochondral plug was surgically removed and replaced in male Japanese white rabbits (n = 22). Specimens obtained at day 0 and weeks 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 postoperatively were assessed using an ultrasound system and by macroscopic and histological evaluation (modified Mankin's score). Histology revealed that the plug sank until 2 weeks postoperatively, and that newly formed cartilage-like tissue covered the plug, but at 24 weeks the tissue detached. The plug itself survived well throughout the period of observation. Although the signal intensity at the plug site was same as that in the sham operated contralateral knee at day 0, from 2 to 24 weeks postoperatively it was less than that in the sham knee. At 8 weeks, this difference was significant (P < 0.05). Modified Mankin's score revealed early degenerative changes at the site, but macroscopic examination did not. Signal intensity correlated significantly with score (both at day 0 and at the five postoperative time points [P < 0.05, r = -0.91] and as a whole [P < 0.05, r = -0.36]). Signal intensity also significantly correlated with the individual subscores for 'cartilage structure' (P < 0.05, r = -0.32) and 'cartilage cells' (P < 0.05, r = -0.30) from the modified Mankin's score, but not significantly with subscores for 'staining' and 'tidemark'. Signal duration correlated significantly with total score (as a whole [P < 0.05, r = 0.34]), but not significantly with the score for cartilage structure (P = 0.0557, r = 0.29). The interval between signals reflected well the actual thickness of the plug site. The significant relationships between ultrasound signal intensity and scores suggest that early degenerative changes in plug cartilage and cartilage-like tissue, especially in the superficial layer, are detectable by high-frequency ultrasound assessment